U.S. patent application number 12/084896 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-16 for staining and sticking system.
Invention is credited to Atsuo Ito, Seiichi Takizawa, Tadashi Tofukuji.
Application Number | 20090098646 12/084896 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38023357 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090098646 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Takizawa; Seiichi ; et
al. |
April 16, 2009 |
Staining and Sticking System
Abstract
The staining and sticking system is composed of a staining
device and a sticking device, which is provided separately from the
staining device, is capable of lightening the staining and sticking
work and can be downsized. The staining and sticking system
comprises the staining device 10 for staining a specimen in a
predetermined color by dipping a basket containing a glass slide
with the specimen in a plurality of tubs sequentially and a
sticking device 12 for sticking a cover film piece onto the stained
specimen on the glass slide, which has been taken out of the basket
transferred from the staining device 10 by transfer means, and the
system is characterized in that a staining control unit 10A of the
staining device 10 and a sticking control unit 12A of the sticking
device 12 are interconnected so as to communicate with each other,
and in that sticking condition data, which relate to the basket fed
from the staining device, out of staining condition data and
sticking condition data inputted to the staining control unit 10A
correspondingly to baskets are sent from the staining control unit
10A to the sticking control unit 12A, and then the sticking device
12 sticks the cover film piece.
Inventors: |
Takizawa; Seiichi;
(Chikuma-shi, JP) ; Ito; Atsuo; (Chikuma-shi,
JP) ; Tofukuji; Tadashi; (Chikuma-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
38023357 |
Appl. No.: |
12/084896 |
Filed: |
November 14, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
November 14, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2006/322603 |
371 Date: |
May 13, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
435/309.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 35/00584 20130101;
G01N 1/312 20130101; G01N 1/36 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
435/309.1 |
International
Class: |
C12M 1/00 20060101
C12M001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 14, 2005 |
JP |
2005-328869 |
Claims
1. A staining and sticking system comprising: a staining device for
staining a sliced specimen in a predetermined color by sequentially
dipping a basket, which contains one or a plurality of glass slides
with the specimens, in a plurality of tubs, in which liquids for
staining the specimen are stored; and a sticking device for
sticking a cover film piece or a cover glass onto the stained
specimen on the glass slide, which has been taken out of the basket
transferred from the staining device by transfer means, wherein a
staining control unit of the staining device and a sticking control
unit of the sticking device are interconnected so as to communicate
with each other, staining condition data and sticking condition
data for each of baskets fed to the staining device are inputted to
the staining control unit, the staining device sequentially dips
the fed basket into the tubs on the basis of the staining condition
data relating to the fed basket, and the sticking device sticks the
cover film piece or the cover glass onto the stained specimen on
the glass slide, which has been contained in the fed basket, on the
basis of the sticking condition data, which relate to the basket
fed from the staining device and which has been sent from the
staining control unit to the sticking control unit.
2. The staining and sticking system according to claim 1, wherein
the staining condition data and the sticking condition data are
inputted to the staining control unit before starting the staining
work.
3. The staining and sticking system according to claim 1, wherein
the sticking condition data of the basket fed from the staining
device are sent from the staining control unit to the sticking
control unit by the time of firstly taking out the glass slide from
the fed basket.
4. The staining and sticking system according to claim 1, wherein
at least parts of casings of the staining device and the sticking
device contact each other.
5. The staining and sticking system according to claim 1, wherein
the transfer means transfers the basket, which contains the glass
slide with the stained specimen, in a state of being dipped in a
protective solution for protecting the specimen.
6. The staining and sticking system according to claim 1, wherein
the basket, which contains the glass slide with the stained
specimen, is inserted in a movable tub, in which a protective
solution for protecting the specimen is stored, and transferred
together with the movable tub.
7. The staining and sticking system according to claim 1, wherein a
main part of the transfer means, which transfers the basket from
the inside of the staining device to the inside of the sticking
device, is provided in the sticking device.
Description
FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY
[0001] The present invention relates to a staining and sticking
system, more precisely relates to a staining and sticking system
comprising: a staining device for staining a sliced specimen, which
is stuck on a glass slide, in a predetermined color; and a sticking
device for sticking a cover film piece or a cover glass onto the
stained specimen on the glass slide.
BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY
[0002] In inspecting sections of hospitals, laboratories, etc., a
sliced specimen is stuck onto a glass slide and stained in a
predetermined color, and then a cover film piece or a cover glass
is stuck onto the stained specimen for microscopic observation.
Staining the specimen and sticking the cover film piece or the
cover glass are usually performed by specialized devices.
[0003] A staining device and a sticking device are separately
installed, so the glass slide, on which the specimen stained by the
staining device has been stuck, is manually transferred to the
sticking device.
[0004] To improve staining and sticking efficiencies, perfectly
automating the sequential staining and sticking works is
required.
[0005] To fulfill the requirement, a staining and sticking system,
whose casings are arranged to partially contact each other, is
disclosed in Patent Document 1.
[0006] The disclosed staining and sticking system comprises: a
staining device for staining a sliced specimen in a predetermined
color by sequentially dipping a rack (basket), which contains a
glass slide with the specimen, in a plurality of tubs, in which
liquids for staining and cleaning the specimen are stored, with a
robot arm; and a sticking device for sticking a cover glass onto
the stained specimen on the glass slide, which has been taken out
of the basket transferred by the robot arm of the staining
device.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In the staining and sticking system disclosed in Patent
Document 1, the basket containing the glass slide with the stained
specimen can be transferred to the sticking device without manual
operation, so that a work load of an operator can be lightened.
[0008] However, the staining device and the sticking device are
independently arranged in the conventional staining and sticking
system, control units thereof are also independently provided. With
this structure, when the basket, which contains the glass slide
with the specimen to be stained, is fed to the staining device, the
operator must input staining condition data to the staining control
unit of the staining device and separately input sticking condition
data for the stained specimen, which has been stained under the
staining conditions, to the sticking control unit.
[0009] As described above, in the staining and sticking system
disclosed in Patent Document 1, the staining condition data and the
sticking condition data are manually inputted to the control units
of the staining device and the sticking device respectively. If the
operator forgets to input the sticking condition data to the
sticking control unit of the sticking device, the sticking work for
sticking the cover glass onto the stained specimen must be stopped
until the operator inputs the sticking condition data to the
sticking device, further the staining work must be stopped.
[0010] It is usually difficult for the operator to determining the
timing of inputting the sticking condition data to the sticking
device due to relation with the timing of feeding the basket, which
contains the glass slide with the specimen (the stained specimen),
from the staining device to the sticking device. In case of
frequently changing the sticking conditions, the work efficiency of
the staining and sticking system must be lowered. To improve the
work efficiency of the staining and sticking system, it is
necessary to continuously feed the baskets, which contain the glass
slides with the specimens onto which the cover glasses will be
stuck under the same sticking conditions, to the sticking device.
However, it is difficult for even the expert operator to
continuously take out the baskets, which contain the glass slides
with the specimens onto which the cover glasses will be stuck under
the same sticking conditions, from the staining device.
[0011] These days, in the staining device, various kinds of
liquids, e.g., a plurality of kinds of staining liquids, a cleaning
liquid, are stored in a plurality of tubs so as to simultaneously
stain specimens by dipping a plurality of baskets, each of which
contains glass slides with the specimens, in the predetermined
tubs. In some cases, the staining work of the basket latterly fed
is performed prior to that of the basket formerly fed. Even if the
operator inputs the staining condition data of the baskets to the
control unit of the staining device when the baskets are fed to the
staining device, the order of terminating the staining works of the
baskets is not fixed, so the operator cannot input the sticking
condition data to the control unit of the sticking device.
Therefore, the operator must input the sticking condition data to
the control unit of the sticking device after the basket is fed
from the staining device to the sticking device.
[0012] If the operator delays to input the sticking condition data,
the start of the sticking work for the basket fed from the staining
device, which is performed by the sticking device, is delayed, and
the baskets are dipped in the liquid tubs for more than the
scheduled time or the baskets, which have been dipped in the liquid
tubs for the scheduled time and taken out therefrom, are held in
the air, so the stained specimens will be badly influenced.
[0013] Thus, the operator should input the sticking condition data
to the control unit of the sticking device at the right time with
respect to the progress of the staining work performed by the
staining device, and the operator should carefully watch the
termination of the staining work, etc., so lightening the work
loads of the staining and sticking works are limited.
[0014] An object of the present invention is to provide a staining
and sticking system, which is composed of a staining device and a
sticking device separated from the staining device, capable of
lightening the work loads of the staining and sticking works and
can be downsized.
[0015] The inventors of the present invention tried to attach a
transponder, in which staining condition data and sticking
condition data are previously stored as digital data, to a basket,
which contains glass slides with specimens to be stained, and read
the data, by control units of a staining device and a sticking
device, from the transponder so as to omit the data-input work.
[0016] However, data storing means, which stores the staining
condition data and the sticking condition data, must be provided to
the transponder, data reading means, which reads the data from the
transponder, must be provided to the control units, so the staining
and sticking system must be complexified and grown in size.
[0017] Generally, baskets containing glass slides with specimen are
fed to the staining device by an operator, so if the operator
inputs staining condition data and sticking condition data to a
control unit of the staining device, the work load can be lighter
than that in the case of separately inputting the staining
condition data and the sticking condition data to the staining
device and the sticking device.
[0018] Further, by interconnecting the staining control unit of the
staining device and the sticking control unit of the sticking
device so as to communicate with each other, the sticking condition
data, which have been inputted to the staining control unit, can be
sent to the sticking control unit of the sticking device, and the
staining work can be smoothly performed in the multi-staining
device by relating the baskets to the staining condition data and
the sticking condition data, so that the inventors reach the
present invention.
[0019] Namely, the staining and sticking system of the present
invention comprises: a staining device for staining a sliced
specimen in a predetermined color by sequentially dipping a basket,
which contains one or a plurality of glass slides with the
specimen, in a plurality of tubs, in which liquids for staining the
specimen are stored; and a sticking device for sticking a cover
film piece or a cover glass onto the stained specimen on the glass
slide, which has been taken out of the basket transferred from the
staining device by transfer means, the system is characterized in
that a staining control unit of the staining device and a sticking
control unit of the sticking device are interconnected so as to
communicate with each other, that staining condition data and
sticking condition data for each of baskets fed to the staining
device are inputted to the staining control unit, the staining
device sequentially dips the fed basket into the tubs on the basis
of the staining condition data relating to the fed basket, and that
the sticking device sticks the cover film piece or the cover glass
onto the stained specimen on the glass slide, which has been
contained in the fed basket, on the basis of the sticking condition
data, which relate to the basket fed from the staining device and
which has been sent from the staining control unit to the sticking
control unit.
[0020] Preferably, the staining condition data and the sticking
condition data are inputted to the staining control unit before
starting the staining work, so that the work load of an operator
can be lighter than that in the case of separately inputting the
staining condition data and the sticking condition data.
[0021] Preferably, the sticking condition data of the basket fed
from the staining device are sent from the staining control unit to
the sticking control unit by the time of firstly taking out the
glass slide from the fed basket.
[0022] Preferably, at least parts of casings of the staining device
and the sticking device contact each other, so that the basket can
be transferred from the staining device to the sticking device by
the transfer means provided in the staining device or the sticking
device.
[0023] Preferably, the transfer means transfers the basket, which
contains the glass slide with the stained specimen, in a state of
being dipped in a protective solution for protecting the specimen,
so that transmutation of the specimen, which is caused by
contacting the air during the transfer process, can be
prevented.
[0024] Preferably, the basket, which contains the glass slide with
the stained specimen, is inserted in a movable tub, in which a
protective solution for protecting the specimen is stored, and
transferred together with the movable tub.
[0025] The staining and sticking system of the present invention
comprises: the staining device for staining the sliced specimen in
the predetermined color by sequentially dipping the basket, which
contains one or a plurality of the glass slides with the specimens,
in a plurality of the tubs, in which the liquids for staining the
specimens are stored; and the sticking device for sticking the
cover film piece or the cover glass onto the stained specimen on
the glass slide, which has been taken out of the basket transferred
from the staining device by the transfer means. With this
structure, the basket, which contains the glass slide with the
specimen, can be automatically transferred to the sticking device
after staining the specimen in the staining device, and then the
cover film piece or the cover glass can be stuck onto the stained
specimen.
[0026] Further, in the staining and sticking system of the present
invention, the staining control unit of the staining device and the
sticking control unit of the sticking device are interconnected so
as to communicate with each other, the staining condition data and
sticking condition data for each of the baskets fed to the staining
device are inputted to the staining control unit, the staining
device sequentially dips the fed basket into the tubs on the basis
of the staining condition data relating to the fed basket, and the
sticking device sticks the cover film piece or the cover glass onto
the stained specimen on the glass slide, which has been contained
in the fed basket, on the basis of the sticking condition data,
which relates to the basket fed from the staining device and which
has been sent from the staining control unit to the sticking
control unit.
[0027] Therefore, by storing the staining condition data and the
sticking condition data, which relate to the basket, in the
staining control unit, the work of manually inputting the sticking
condition data of the basket to the sticking control unit can be
omitted, so that the work load of the operator can be
lightened.
[0028] Unlike the conventional system including a transponder for
storing the staining condition data and the sticking condition data
as digital data, data storing means for storing the digital data in
the transponder and data reading means for reading the digital data
from the transponder can be omitted, so that the staining and
sticking system of the present invention can be simplified and
downsized.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 is a front view of an example of the staining and
sticking system of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 2 is a partial plan view explaining a staining device
10 of the system shown in FIG. 1.
[0031] FIG. 3 is a front view explaining action of a basket
transfer means 22 of the staining device 10 shown in FIG. 2.
[0032] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a sticking device 12
coordinating with the staining device 10.
[0033] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an inner structure of the
sticking device shown in FIG. 4.
[0034] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a tub setting section 28 shown
in FIG. 4.
[0035] FIG. 7 is an explanation view explaining a relationship
between a basket 20 inserted in a movable tub 26 and U-shaped claw
sections 52a and 52b, which are provided to an arm 48 of the basket
20.
[0036] FIG. 8 is an explanation view showing a state, in which the
movable tub 26 is moved to insert the basket 20 in a space between
the claw sections 52a and 52b of the arm 48.
[0037] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a main body section 30 of the
sticking device 12 shown in FIG. 4.
[0038] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of transfer means, which is
provided to the main body section 30 and which transfers a glass
slide 25 contained in the basket 20.
[0039] FIG. 11 is an explanation view of a balancer 76 provided to
the transfer means.
[0040] FIG. 12 is an explanation view showing a state, in which the
glass slide 25 is taken out from the basket 20 by the transfer
means.
[0041] FIG. 13 is a schematic view of means for feeding a mounting
medium onto the glass slide 25 transferred by the transfer
means.
[0042] FIG. 14 is a schematic view of an example of a cover film
setting section 32 of the sticking device shown in FIG. 4.
[0043] FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing action of the staining and
sticking system comprising the staining device 10 and the sticking
device 12.
[0044] FIGS. 16A and 16B show examples of staining condition data
and sticking condition data inputted to an input section of a
staining control unit 10A.
[0045] FIG. 17 is a schematic view of another example of the cover
film setting section 32.
[0046] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another sticking device 12,
which can be used instead of the sticking device 12 shown in FIGS.
4-14.
[0047] FIG. 19 is an explanation view of transfer means, which is
provided to the sticking device 12 shown in FIG. 18 and which
transfers the movable tub 26.
OPTIMUM EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0048] An example of the staining and sticking system of the
present invention is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the
system composed of a staining device 10 having a display monitor 14
and a sticking device 12, and the casings of the devices contact
each other.
[0049] A staining control unit 10A controls the staining device 10;
a sticking control unit 12A controls the sticking device 12. The
staining control unit 10A and the sticking control unit 12A are
interconnected so as to communicate with each other.
[0050] The staining control unit 10A comprises: a memory for
storing staining condition data and sticking condition data, which
are related to each of baskets, and further storing history data of
staining works and sticking works; a CPU receiving signals sent
from sensors, which are attached to a main body section of the
staining device 10, etc. and sending a signal so as to drive the
staining device 10 on the basis of the staining condition data
stored in the memory; an input section for inputting the staining
condition data and the sticking condition data; and a display
section (e.g., the display monitor 14) displaying the staining
condition data, the sticking condition data and the history data of
the staining works and the sticking works.
[0051] The sticking control unit 12A comprises: a memory for
storing the sticking condition data, which are related to each of
the baskets and which are sent from the CPU of the staining control
unit; and a CPU receiving signals sent from sensors, which are
attached to a main body section of the sticking device 12, etc. and
sending a signal so as to drive the sticking device 12 on the basis
of the sticking condition data stored in the memory.
[0052] The history data of the sticking work performed by the
sticking device 12 are sent form the CPU of the sticking control
unit 12A to the CPU of the staining control unit 10A and stored in
the memory of the staining control unit 10A.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 2, the staining device 10 of the staining
and sticking system shown in FIG. 1 has a rectangular container 16,
and a plurality of tubs 18, 18 . . . , in which several kinds of
liquids for staining specimens stuck on glass slides are stored,
are arranged in the container. Three baskets 20, 20 and 20, each of
which contains one or a plurality of glass slides with specimens,
can be inserted in each of the tubs 18.
[0054] The tubs 18a, 18b and 18c of the tubs 18, 18 . . . are start
tubs, so an operator initially inserts the baskets 20, each of
which contains one or a plurality of glass slides with specimens to
be stained, into the start tubs.
[0055] Each of the baskets 20, which has been inserted in the start
tubs 18a, 18b or 18c, are inserted into the first tub 18 so as to
dip the specimens stuck on the glass slides in a prescribed
staining liquid or a cleaning liquid for a predetermined time
period. Next, the basket 20, which has been dipped in the first tub
18, is taken out, and then transferred to and dipped into the
second tub 18, in which a staining liquid or a cleaning liquid is
stored. Each of the baskets 20 is sequentially dipped in a
plurality of the tubs 18.
[0056] Basket transfer means 22 transfers the baskets 20. The
basket transfer means 22 comprises: a lateral moving member 22a
being spanned between long edges of the container 16, arranged
parallel to short edges thereof and capable of moving along the
long edges of the container 16; a longitudinal moving member 22b
being arranged in the direction perpendicular to the lateral moving
member 22a and capable of moving along the lateral moving member
22a; and a vertical moving member 22c being capable of vertically
moving along the longitudinal moving member 22b.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 3, i.e., a partial sectional side view of
the staining device 10, the vertical moving member 22c has a holder
24. The holder 24 suspends the baskets 20 is vertically moved
together with the vertical moving member 22c, is moved along the
lateral moving member 22a together with the longitudinal moving
member 22b and is moved along the long edges of the container 16
together with the lateral moving member 22a.
[0058] A movable tub 26, which can enter and leave the sticking
device 12 and the staining device 10, is located at a sticking
device 12 side corner of the container 16 of the staining device 10
shown in FIGS. 1-3. A protective solution for protecting stained
specimens is stored in the movable tub 26, and the movable tub 26
is moved into the sticking device 12 together with the baskets 20,
which contain the glass slides (the glass slides with the stained
specimens), in a state of being dipped in the protective
solution.
[0059] When the baskets 20, which contain the glass slides with the
stained specimens, are inserted into the movable tub 26, firstly
the holder 24 of the vertical moving member 22c is moved to a
position above the final tub 18, in which the baskets 20 containing
the glass slides with the stained specimens have been dipped, by
driving the lateral moving member 22a and the longitudinal moving
member 22b of the basket transfer means 22.
[0060] Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the vertical moving member 22c is
moved downward so as to engage the holder 24 with engage holes of
baskets hooks 20c of the baskets 20, and then the vertical moving
member 22c is moved upward so as to move the baskets 20 to the
position above the tub 18.
[0061] Next, the baskets 20 engaged with the holder 24 is moved to
a position above the movable tub 26 by driving the lateral moving
member 22a and the longitudinal moving member 22b, and then the
vertical moving member 22c is moved downward so as to insert the
baskets 20 into the movable tub 26.
[0062] The sticking device 12 located adjacent to the staining
device 10 is shown in FIG. 4. The sticking device 12 shown in FIG.
4 sticks cover film pieces, in each of which an adhesive is applied
to one surface, onto the specimens stuck on the glass slides.
[0063] The movable tub 26, which is transferred from the staining
device 10 and in which the baskets 20 containing the glass slides
with the stained specimens are dipped in the protective solution,
can enter and leave the sticking device 12.
[0064] The sticking device 12 comprises: a tub setting section 28,
in which the movable tub 26 is set; a main body section 30, in
which a mounting medium, e.g., xylene, dissolving the adhesive
applied on the one surface of the cover film piece is dropped onto
the specimens on the glass slides contained in the baskets 20
transferred from the movable tub 26 to a waiting position; a cover
film setting section 32 for setting a roll of a long cover film,
which will be cut to form the cover film pieces having a prescribed
length; a bottle setting section 34, in which a bottle storing the
mounting medium to be dropped onto the specimens on the glass
slides is set; and a basket accommodating section 36 for
accommodating the baskets 20 containing the glass slides with the
specimens covered with the cover film pieces.
[0065] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an inner structure of the
sticking device shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 6, the movable
tub 26 located at the tub setting section 26 shown in FIG. 5 can be
moved between the staining device 10 and the sticking device 12 by
suitable means, e.g., motor, cylinder unit.
[0066] In the movable tub 26, a mounting section 40, on which the
basket 20 will be mounted, is fixed to a side face of the movable
tub 26 as shown in FIG. 6, and a strip-shaped member 42 is provided
near a wall 40a of the mounting section 40 and can be turned about
a center shaft 42a.
[0067] A spring 44, which biases one end of the strip-shaped member
42 toward the wall 40a, is provided between an upper end part of
the wall 40a and the one end of the strip-shaped member 42; the
other end of the strip-shaped member 42 is turned toward the
baskets 20 on the mounting section 40 so that it is moved away from
the wall 40a until contacting the baskets 20.
[0068] Sizes of the baskets 20 depend on number of containable
glass slides. Thus, sensors 46a and 46b for detecting the one end
of the strip-shaped member 42 are provided above the movable tub 26
having the strip-shaped member 42 and are separately placed in the
moving direction of the movable tub 26. In the sticking device 12,
the sensor 46b is located on the inner side with respect to the
sensor 46a.
[0069] As shown in FIG. 5, a turning arm 48, which is constitute by
L-shaped members 48a and 48b shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and capable of
tuning about a rear end shaft 50, is provided near the movable tub
26. U-shaped claw sections 52a and 52b are provided to a front end
of the arm 48. As shown in FIG. 7, the claw sections 52a and 52b
are separated with a clearance L, in which the basket 20 can be
inserted; as shown in FIG. 6, the claw sections 52a and 52b having
a width W can be inserted in grooves 20d and 20d of the basket
20.
[0070] Means for turning the arm 48, e.g., motor, and the means for
transferring the movable tub 26 are controlled by the sticking
control unit 12A, which receives signals from the sensors 46a and
46b.
[0071] The movable tub 26 is transferred from the staining device
12 to the inside of the tub setting section 28 shown in FIGS. 6 and
7, and then the arm 48 is turned to a position at which the claw
sections 52a and 52b can be inserted into the grooves 20d and 20d
of the basket 20 mounted on the mounting section 40 of the movable
tub 26.
[0072] Next, the movable tub 26 is moved toward the claw sections
52a and 52b by the transfer means so as to insert the basket 20 in
the clearance between the claw sections 52a and 52b, and only the
movement of the basket 20 is stopped.
[0073] The basket 20, whose movement caused by transferring the
movable tub 26 is stopped by the claw sections 52a and 52b of the
arm 48, presses the other end of the strip-shaped member 42, which
is moved together with the movable tub 26, in the direction
opposite to the biasing direction of the spring 44. With this
action, the strip-shaped member 42 is turned against the elasticity
of the spring 44, the one end of the strip-shaped member 42 is
moved toward the sensor 46a, and the sensor 46a sends the detection
signal to the sticking control unit 12A.
[0074] Upon receiving the detection signal from the sensor 46a, the
sticking control unit 12A judges that the detected basket 20 is
larger than the basket 20 to be detected by the sensor 46b, and the
control unit restrains the following action.
[0075] Note that, in case that no sensors 46a and 46b detect the
one end of the strip-shaped member 42, the sticking control unit
12A judges that no basket 20 is inserted in the movable tub 26, and
the control unit stops the following action.
[0076] As shown in FIG. 8, when the claw sections 52a and 52b are
inserted into the grooves 20d and 20d of the basket 20, which is
mounted on the mounting section 40 of the movable tub 26 and which
has a turnable handle 20b, and the one end of the strip-shaped
member 42 is detected, the sticking control unit 12A sends a signal
for driving the turning means so as to turn the arm 48 as shown in
FIG. 5.
[0077] By turning the arm 48, the basket 20 held by the claw
sections 52a and 52b is taken out from the movable tub 26 and
turned until horizontalizing the contained glass slides 25, 25 . .
. .
[0078] While the turning action, the turning action is once stopped
so as to move a handle pusher 54 shown in FIG. 5 in the direction
perpendicular to a paper surface of FIG. 5, so that the handle 20
of the basket 20 is turned down. By tuning down the handle 20b,
taking out the glass slides 25, 25 . . . from the basket 20 and/or
inserting the same thereinto is not interfered with the handle
20b.
[0079] The basket 20, whose handle 20b has been turned down, is
turned until horizontalizing the contained glass slides 25, 25 . .
. , and then mounted on an elevating table 56, which can be moved
in the vertical direction, and upwardly moved to the waiting
position.
[0080] Each of the glass slides 25, 25 . . . contained in the
basket 20 located at the waiting position is transferred onto a
horizontal table 60, as shown in FIG. 9, by a transfer unit 58 of
the main body section 30 of the sticking device 12. The glass slide
25 on the horizontal table 60 is moved to a prescribed position of
the horizontal table 60 by the transfer unit 58, and then restored
in the initial place of the basket 20 located at the waiting
position.
[0081] A transferring device shown in FIG. 10 may be used as the
transfer unit 58. In the transferring device shown in FIG. 10, one
ends of plate members 66a and 66b are respectively fixed to sliders
64a and 64b, which are slidably attached to a guide member 62, and
detection plates 69a and 69b are respectively attached to the one
ends thereof. A push ejector 68b, which ejects the glass slide 25
from a prescribed position of the basket 20 to the prescribed
position of the horizontal table 60, and a return ejector 68a,
which returns the glass slides 25 ejected by the push ejector 68b,
to the initial position of the basket 20, are respectively provided
to the other ends of the plate members 66a and 66b.
[0082] A belt 77 engaged with pulleys 79a and 79b is fixed to a
member 67, which is extended from the one end of the plate member
66b, by a fixing member 65b, and the pulley 79a is rotated in the
normal direction and the reverse direction by a motor 73, which is
controlled by the sticking control unit 12A. With this structure,
the plate member 66b is moved, by the motor 73, along the guide
member 62, and the push ejector 68b is also moved along the guide
member 62.
[0083] On the other hand, the plate member 66a is moved by a wire
74, which is engaged with pulleys 72a and 72b and fixed by a fixing
member 65a provided to the detection plate 69a attached to the one
end of the plate member 66a, and a balancer 76, which is suspended
from an end of the wire 74 on the pulley 72a side.
[0084] As shown in FIG. 11, the balancer 76 is suspended from the
pulley 72a side end of the wire 74 engaged with the pulleys 72a and
72b, and the pulley 72b side end thereof is fixed to the fixing
member 65a of the detection plate 69a. With this structure, a force
biasing toward the pulley 72b is applied to the plate member 66a
and the return ejector 68a.
[0085] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, the glass slide 25 with the
stained specimen, which was contained in the basket 20 located at
the waiting position, is clamped by the ejectors 68a and 68b and
transferred onto the horizontal table 60 and moved in the
predetermined direction.
[0086] Since the glass slide 25 is clamped between the ejectors 68a
and 68b and transferred, a weight of the balancer 76 is suitably
adjusted so as not to stop the transfer movement and break the
glass slide 25.
[0087] As shown in FIG. 10, sensor 70, which detect the detection
plate 69a when the front end of the return ejector 68a reaches a
position close to the basket 20 located at the waiting position,
are sensor 70, which detect the detection plate 69a.
[0088] Further, a right sensor 71a and a left sensor 71b, which
detect the detection plate 69b, are provided, and the right sensor
71a detects the detection plate 69b when a front end of the push
ejector 68b reaches a position close to the basket 20 located at
the waiting position as shown in FIG. 10. On the other hand, the
left sensor 71b is provided to detect the detection plate 69b when
the sliders 64a and 64b reach positions 64a' and 64b' shown in FIG.
10. When the left sensor 71b detects the detection plate 69b, the
push ejector 68b pierces through the basket 20 and reaches the
prescribed position in the horizontal table 60.
[0089] In the sticking control unit 12A, when the glass slide,
which has been contained in the basket 20 located at the waiting
position, is transferred from the basket 20 to the horizontal table
60, the drive signal is sent from the sticking control unit 12A to
the motor 73 so as to rotate the motor in the normal direction and
make the front end of the push ejector 68b contact and push one end
of the glass slide 25, so that the glass slide 25 is transferred
from the basket 20 to the horizontal plate 60.
[0090] The glass slide 25, which has been pushes out from the
basket 20 by the push ejector 68b, is moved away from the basket,
by the push ejector 68b, against a force of the balancer 76, which
is applied by making the front end of the return ejector 68a
contact the other end of the glass slide. At that time, the plate
member 66b is moved toward the left sensor 71b, so that the
detection signal of detecting the detection plate 69b, which is
sent from the right sensor 71a to the sticking control unit 12A, is
turned off; the detection plate 69a of the plate member 66a is also
moved, so that the detection signal of detecting the detection
plate 69a, which is sent from the sensor 70 to the sticking control
unit 12A, is also turned off.
[0091] When the detection plate 69b of the plate member 66b reaches
a detection point and is detected by the left sensor 71b, the glass
slide 25 is moved to the prescribed position in the horizontal
table 60 by the push ejector 68b as shown in FIG. 9. Upon receiving
the detection signal of detecting the detection plate 69b from the
left sensor 71b, the sticking control unit 12A stops the motor 73
and rotates the motor in the reverse direction.
[0092] Therefore, the push ejector 68b, which contacts the glass
slide 25 whose front end is pushed by the return ejector 68a, is
moved toward the basket 20.
[0093] The push ejector 68b passes through the basket 20, the glass
slide 25 is restored at the initial position in the basket 20, and
then the sticking control unit 12A stops the reverse rotation of
the motor 73 by receiving the detection signal of detecting the
detection plate 69b from the right sensor 71a.
[0094] In case that the glass slide 25 is not located at the
predetermined position in the basket 20 located at the waiting
position, even if the detection plate 69b of the plate member 66b
is not detected by the right sensor 71a, the detection plate 69a of
the plate member 66a is not detected by the sensor 70. Therefore,
even if the detection signal of the right sensor 71a is turned off,
the sticking control unit 12A judges that no glass slide 25 is
stored at the predetermined position in the basket 20 when the
detection signal of the sensor 70 is turned on and transfers the
next glass slide 25 from the basket 20.
[0095] The glass slide 25, which has been transferred from the
predetermined position in the basket 20 to the horizontal table 60,
is moved to the prescribed position by the transfer unit 58, a
mounting medium is dropped onto the stained specimen on the glass
slide 25 from a metal nozzle 78 as shown in FIG. 9 and a cover film
piece is stuck thereonto while the glass slide is transferred from
the prescribed position to the initial position in the basket 20
located at the waiting position.
[0096] As shown in FIG. 13, a metal nozzle 78 is connected to means
for feeding the mounting medium. As shown in FIG. 5, the feeding
means has: a transparent tube 82, which introduces the mounting
medium stored in a bottle 80 set in the bottle setting section 34
of the sticking device 12 shown in FIG. 5 to the metal nozzle 78,
and a pump 84, an electromagnetic valve 86 and a bubble detection
sensor 88 are provided to the tube 82 in that order from the bottle
80.
[0097] The pump 84 and the electromagnetic valve 86 are controlled
by the sticking control unit 12A, and the bubble detection sensor
88 sends a bubble detection signal to the sticking control unit 12A
when a bubble is detected in the tube 82.
[0098] A filter 90 is attached to a front end part of the tube 82,
which is inserted in the bottle 80, so that sucking dusts, which
have been contained in the bottle 80, into the tube 82 can be
prevented when the bottle 80 is exchanged.
[0099] The bottle 80 is mounted on a table 94, to which an upward
force is applied by a weight 92 whose weight is equal to the sum of
a weight of the tare of the bottle 80 and a weight of the mounting
medium stored in the bottle 80. Since the table 94 is moved upward
and downward by the weight of the mounting medium stored in the
bottle 80, the amount of the mounting medium stored in the bottle
80 can be known by measuring the vertical position of the table 94.
When the mounting medium in the bottle 80 is reduced and the table
94 is upwardly moved to a predetermined position, a detection
sensor 96 sends a detection signal to the sticking control unit
12A. Upon receiving the detection signal sent from the sensor 96,
the sticking control unit 12A sends a stop signal to the turning
means for turning the arm 48 so as not to take out the new basket
20 from the movable tub 26.
[0100] In some cases, air is sucked into the tube 82 and bubbles
are formed in the tube 82 when the bottle 80 is exchanged. The
bubbles in the tube 82 vary the amount of the mounting medium to be
dropped onto the glass slide 25. Upon receiving the bubble
detection signal sent from the bubble sensor 88, the sticking
control unit 12A drives the pump 84 so as to discharge all of the
mounting medium in the tube 82 from the nozzle 78 and sends a
signal for opening the electromagnetic valve 86. The mounting
medium discharged from the nozzle 78 is stored in a drain bottle 81
(see FIG. 5) set in the bottle setting section 34. Upon completely
discharging the mounting medium from the tube 82, the sticking
control unit 12A stops the pump 84 and sends a signal for closing
the electromagnetic valve 86.
[0101] In the feeding means shown in FIG. 13, a distance between
the bubble detection sensor 88 and the nozzle 78 is preferably
designed so as to store enough amount of the mounting medium, which
is capable of encapsulating a maximum number of the specimens on
the glass slides 25 contained in the basket 20 located at the
waiting position. By storing enough amount of the mounting medium
capable of encapsulating a maximum number of the specimens on the
glass slides 25 contained in the basket 20 located at the waiting
position, all of the specimens on the glass slides 25 contained in
the basket 20 located at the waiting position can be securely
encapsulated without running short of the mounting medium.
[0102] Note that, even if the table 94, the weight 92 and the
sensor 96 are not provided, the bubble detection sensor 88 detects
bubbles and sends the bubble detection signal when the mounting
medium in the bottle 80 is reduced and air invades into the tube
82, a timing of exchanging the bottle 80 can be known.
[0103] The mounting medium is dropped onto the glass slides by the
feeding means shown in FIG. 13, and the cover film piece is pressed
thereonto by sticking means 100 shown in FIG. 9.
[0104] In the sticking means 100, a pair of feed rollers 98 and a
pair of cover rollers 102 feed a long cover film 96 to the glass
slide 25 as shown in FIG. 9, and the cover film 96 is cut by a
cutter 104 provided between the feed rollers 98 and the cover
rollers 102 so as to form cover film pieces 105 shown in FIG. 9,
which have a predetermined length. The cover film piece 105 is
pressed and stuck onto the glass slide 25 by a sticking roller 106.
A rotary shaft of the sticking roller 106 is biased toward the
horizontal table 60 by biasing means having a prescribed biasing
force, e.g., spring 108, so that the cover film piece 105 can be
pressed onto the glass slide 25 with a fixed force.
[0105] In the sticking means 100 shown in FIG. 9, the cutting
means, e.g., cutter 104, is synchronously driven with the feeding
action of the feed rollers 98 from the start of the feeding action,
so that the cover film pieces 105 having the prescribed length can
be formed from the cover film 96. Therefore, the length of the
cover film piece 105 can be shortened by driving the cutter 104
with short time intervals from the start of the feeding action of
the feed rollers 98.
[0106] A sticking-start point of the cover film piece 105, form
which the cover film piece is stuck on the glass slide 25, can be
adjusted by adjusting start-timing of the cover roller 102. The
sticking-start point of the cover film piece 105 can be close to
the one end of the glass slide 25 by starting the cover rollers 102
earlier with respect to the glass slides 25 moved on the horizontal
table 60. A distance between the one end of the glass slide 25 and
the sticking-start point of the cover film piece 105 may be
included in the sticking condition data so as to stick the cover
film piece 105 at the predetermined position.
[0107] In the sticking means 100 shown in FIG. 9, the glass slide
25, which has been contained at the prescribed position in the
basket 20 located at the waiting position, is clamped between the
return ejector 68a and the push ejector 68b and moved to the
horizontal table 60, and the glass slide 25 is further moved away
from the basket 20 by the push ejector 68b until passing the nozzle
78, then the movement of the glass slide 25 performed by the push
ejector 68b is stopped.
[0108] Next, the glass slide 25 is moved toward the basket 20 by
the return ejector 68a, the mounting medium is dropped when the one
end of the glass slide 25 reaches a predetermined position with
respect to the nozzle 78, and then a pair of the feed rollers 98
and a pair of the cover rollers 102 are driven, and the cutter 104
is driven at the prescribed timing, so that the front end of the
cover film piece 105 having the prescribed length is placed at the
predetermined position in the glass slide 25. The cover film piece
105, which has been placed at the predetermined position in the
glass slide 25, is pressed and stuck onto the glass slide 25 by the
sticking roller 106.
[0109] When the glass slide 25 is moved toward the basket 20 by the
return ejector 68a, a return speed of the glass slide 25 can be
controlled by adjusting a reverse rotational speed of the motor 73,
which returns the push ejector 68b contacting the glass slide
25.
[0110] The long cover film 96 shown in FIG. 9 is fed from cover
film feeding means of the cover film setting section 32 shown in
FIG. 4.
[0111] In the cover film feeding means, as shown in FIG. 14, the
cover film 96 is extended from a film roll 110, in which the cover
film 96 is wound, further extended by an extension roller 112 and
fed to a pair of the feed rollers 98 via a sensor 114 for detecting
an end of the cover film 96 and guide rollers 116a-116d provided
around the film roll 110.
[0112] A length of the cover film 96 between the sensor 114 and the
feed rollers 98 is designed to stick the cover film pieces 105 onto
a maximum number of the glass slides 25 contained in the basket 20
located at the waiting position. By the cover film length-securing
means which is constituted by the guide rollers 116a-116d provided
around the film roll 110, even if the sensor 114 detects the end of
the cover film 96 while treating the glass slides 25 contained in
the basket 20 located at the waiting position, the cover film
pieces 105 can be stuck onto all of the glass slides 25 contained
in the basket 20 located at the waiting position.
[0113] Note that, the detection signal of the sensor 114 is sent to
the sticking control unit 12A so as to stop taking out the new
basket from the movable tub 26 and stop transferring the movable
tub 26 from the staining device 10.
[0114] The glass slide 25, on which the cover film piece 105 has
been stuck, is restored at the initial position in the basket 20
located at the waiting position. After the cover film pieces 105
are orderly stuck on all of the stained specimens on the glass
slides 25 contained in the basket 20, the basket 20 is accommodated
in the basket accommodating section 36 (see FIG. 4), which is
located above the waiting position, by the elevating table 56. A
basket accommodating member is provided in the basket accommodating
section 36 so as to accommodate a plurality of the baskets 20.
[0115] Since the glass slides 25 with the cover film pieces 105 are
restored in the basket 20, which has been contained in the basket
20, and the basket is accommodated in the basket accommodating
section 36, the basket 20 is moved in one direction only, i.e.,
form the staining device 10 to the sticking device 12. With this
structure, only the movable tub 26 is returned to the sticking
device 10, so the structure of the means for transferring the
movable tub 26 can be simplified.
[0116] Next, the action of the staining and sticking system
comprising the staining device 10 and the sticking device 12, which
are shown in FIGS. 1-14, will be explained with reference to a flow
chart of FIG. 15.
[0117] Firstly, the baskets 20, each of which contains one or a
plurality of the glass slides 25 with the specimens, are set in the
start tubs 18a, 18b and 18c (see FIG. 2). Three baskets 20 can be
contained in each of the start tubs 18a, 18b and 18c.
[0118] After the baskets 20 are inserted in at least one of the
baskets 20, the staining condition data and the sticking condition
data are inputted to the input section of the sticking control unit
10A.
[0119] Examples of the staining condition data and the sticking
condition data are shown in FIG. 16A. The staining condition data
and the sticking condition data shown in FIG. 16A are applied to a
case, wherein the baskets 20 are set in all of the start tubs 18a,
18b and 18c. In this case, the staining condition data including
the selected tubs 18, 18 . . . provided in the container 16,
dipping order and a dipping time period are inputted for each of
the baskets 20 set in the start tubs 18a, 18b and 18c.
[0120] The sticking condition data including an amount of the
mounting medium, which can be adjusted by adjusting a rotation
number of the pump 84, a sticking speed, which can be adjusted by
adjusting the return speed of the return ejector 68a, and the
length of the cover film piece, which can be adjusted by
controlling the cutter 104 cutting the cover film 96, are inputted
for each of the baskets 20. The amount of the mounting medium and
the sticking speed are divided into a plurality of stages, the
stages are previously numbered, and the numbers are inputted as the
sticking condition data.
[0121] By the sticking condition data, even if a plurality of the
glass slides with the specimens are contained in the basket 20, the
specimens on the glass slides contained in the basket can be
covered with the cover film pieces under the same sticking
conditions.
[0122] Note that, correcting the sticking condition data, which
have been inputted with the staining condition data, can be
performed by the time of starting the sticking work performed by
the sticking device.
[0123] After inputting the staining condition data and the sticking
condition data, a start key is turned on, and then the staining
condition data and the sticking condition data, which have been
inputted to the input section and which are related to each of the
baskets 20, are stored in the memory of the staining control unit
10A. At that time, the CPU of the staining control unit 10A
determines order of performing the staining works of the baskets 20
(or order of terminating the staining work of the baskets 20) on
the basis of the number of the tubs and the dipping time
period.
[0124] Next, the specimens on the glass slides 25 contained in the
basket 20 are stained, in order, on the basis of the staining
condition data stored in the memory of the staining control unit
10A. Data of the performed staining works are also related to the
baskets 20 and stored in the memory as the history data.
[0125] Terminating the staining work of the basket 20 is judged
when the actual dipping time period of the basket 20 in the final
tub, which is defined as the staining condition data, is passed
over the scheduled time period. The basket 20 whose staining work
has been terminated can be identified on the basis of the order
data stored in the memory of the staining control unit 10A.
[0126] In some cases, the new baskets 20 are inserted into the
vacant start tubs 18a, 18b or 18c before starting or terminating
the staining work of the baskets 20, which have been set in the
start tubs 18a, 18b or 18c. In this case, when the start key is
turned on, the CPU of the staining control unit 10A determines the
order of performing the staining works of the baskets 20 (or the
order of terminating the staining work of the baskets 20), once
again, on the basis of staining condition data of the new baskets
20, which have been inputted to the input section, and the sticking
condition data of the baskets 20, which have been stored in the
memory of the staining control unit 10A, before starting or while
performing the staining work, and the determined order is restored
in the memory.
[0127] Therefore, in this case too, the basket 20 whose staining
work has been terminated can be identified on the basis of the
order data stored in the memory of the staining control unit
10A.
[0128] When the basket 20, whose specimens have been completely
stained, exists and the sticking device 12 is ready (the sticking
work is not performed in the sticking device 12), the sticking
control unit 12A sends a signal so as to move the movable tub 26 in
the sticking device 12 to inside of the container 16 of the
staining device 10. The protective solution for protecting the
stained specimens on the glass slides 25 is stored in the movable
tub 26.
[0129] When the movement of the movable tub 26 toward the staining
device 10 is terminated, the baskets 20, whose specimens have been
completely stained, are inserted in the container 16 in the state
of dipping the protective solution. Then, the movable tub 26, in
which the baskets 20 containing the stained specimens have been
inserted, is returned to inside of the sticking device 12.
[0130] At that time, the sticking condition data of the baskets 20
containing the stained specimens, which have been stored in the
memory of the staining control unit 10A, are sent to the memory of
the sticking control unit 12A, and the cover film pieces are stuck
on the stained specimens on the glass slides 25 contained in the
basket 20 on the basis of the sticking condition data.
[0131] The sticking condition data relating to the basket 20, which
contains the stained specimens, are sent from the staining control
unit 10A to the sticking control unit 12A by the time of firstly
taking out the glass slide from said basket 20, preferably by the
time of firstly taking out the glass slide from said basket 20
after feeding the basket 20 to the sticking device 12 so as to
reduce memory capacity of the memory of the sticking control unit
12A.
[0132] Of course, the memory capacity of the memory of the sticking
control unit 12A may be increased, the sticking condition data of
the basket 20 may be sent to the sticking control unit 12A when the
staining work is started, and the sticking condition data relating
to the fed basket 20 are read from the memory of the sticking
control unit 12A when the cover film pieces are stuck onto the
stained specimens.
[0133] The cover film pieces are stuck onto the specimens on the
glass slides 25 contained in the basket 20 on the basis of the
sticking condition data stored in the memory of the sticking
control unit 12A. When the cover film pieces are stuck on all of
the specimens on the glass slides 25 contained in the basket 20,
the monitor 14 displays the staining condition data, the sticking
condition data and the work history of the basket 20.
[0134] Next, the staining condition data, the sticking condition
data and the history data stored in the memory of the staining
control unit 10A are examined so as to check if there are untreated
baskets in the staining and sticking system or not. If there are
any untreated baskets in the system, the staining work is
restarted; if there are no untreated baskets therein, the staining
and sticking works are terminated.
[0135] In the above described embodiment, the cover film pieces can
be uniformly stuck onto the stained specimens on the glass slides,
which are contained in the basket 20, by performing the sticking
works on the basis of the sticking condition data relating to said
basket.
[0136] In the sticking device 12 of the staining and sticking
system shown in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 9, the cover film pieces
are stuck onto the stained specimens on the glass slides 25, 25 . .
. , which are contained in the basket 20, in order.
[0137] As shown in FIG. 16B, the sticking condition data inputted
to the staining control unit 10A are optimum data for each of the
stained specimens on the glass slides 25 contained in the basket
20, so that the cover film piece can be stuck onto each of the
stained specimens on the glass slides 25, which are contained in
the basket 20, under the independent optimum sticking conditions
respectively.
[0138] The cover film length-securing means, which is constituted
by the guide rollers 116a-116d provided around the film roll 110,
extends the cover film 96 so as to secure the required length of
the cover film 96, so a prescribed space must be formed in the
sticking device 12. In the cover film 96 wound as the film roll
110, a mark is previously formed at a predetermined position, which
is separated a predetermined distance from a terminal end; namely,
the cover film pieces cut from the cover film 96 having said
distance can be stuck onto all of the glass slides 25 contained the
basket 20 located at the waiting position, and the mark can be
detected by the sensor 114, which is provided immediately before
the feed rollers 98, as shown in FIG. 15.
[0139] Further, a plurality of the baskets 20, 20 . . . may be
arranged parallel in the movable tub 26. In this case, the
strip-shaped members 42 must be arranged parallel in the movable
tub 26.
[0140] In the sticking device 12 shown in FIGS. 4-16, the cover
film pieces having the prescribed length are stuck onto the stained
specimens on the glass slides 25, but the sticking device 12 may
stick cover glasses onto the stained specimens on the glass slides
25 instead of the cover film pieces 105.
[0141] A sticking device 12 shown in FIG. 18, which is disclosed in
Japanese Patent Gazette No. 2001-2731, may be used to stick cover
glasses onto glass slides.
[0142] In the sticking device 12 shown in FIG. 18, a transparent
cover 122 of a main body part 120 can be opened and closed, and an
operation panel 124 is attached to the main body part 120. Further,
a container 126 storing a mounding medium is inserted in the main
body part 120.
[0143] The movable tub 26 can be transferred between the main body
part 120 and the staining device 10. As shown in FIG. 19, means for
transferring the movable tub 26 is constituted by a motor 140
provided in the main body part 120 and a wire 142 driven by the
motor 140, and a front end part of the wire 142 is extended to
inside of the staining device 10.
[0144] In the staining and sticking system shown in FIGS. 1-19, at
least parts of the casings of the staining device 10 and the
sticking device 12 are mutually contacted, but a transferring
device may be provided between the staining device 10 and the
sticking device 12. By providing the transferring device, the
sticking device 12 can collaborate with a wide variety of staining
devices 10.
* * * * *